Web retention clip

ABSTRACT

A clip for the retention of a web wound upon a reel having a flange with radially extending slot for slidable movement of the clip along the flange. The clip includes a pressure bearing means having the general shape of a frustum of a wedge. This permits first contact to be made at the thick end of the wedge and through resilient cantilevered action, web contact along the length of the pressure bearing means is ensured. The clip has gripping means which includes a friction fit of the flange width. The gripping means also includes a pair of resilient shoulders which cooperate with the thin end of the wedge for gripping the flange to maintain the position of the clip on the flange. Gripping action and web retention are further enchanced by having a neck portion resiliently couple the pressure bearing means with the gripping means.



1. A clip for the retention of a web upon a web storage device having a hub and at least one flange extending radially therefrom, said flange being provided with a radially extending slot for slidably supporting said clip, said clip comprising: support means positionable adjacent one side of said flange and including means for frictionally engaging said one side to maintain the position of said clip on said reel; pressure bearing means for exerting pressure on said web and positionable adjacent the opposite side of said flange to extend in cantilevered fashion and in overlying relationship relative to said hub; a neck portion connecting and resiliently coupling said support and said pressure bearing means to enhance the pressure exerted on said web and the frictional engagement of said flange, said neck being of such size as to be slidably positionable in said slot; and a web contacting portion on said pressure bearing means, said web contacting portion being positionable radially outward of said hub such that all points in said web contacting portion are in a plane which slopes away from said opposite side of said flange at an inclined angle toward said hub, so that when placing said clip on said flange an end of said web contacting portion farthest from said support means will be the first to contact a portion of said web and by resilient rotation of said pressure bearing means the entire web contacting portion may contact said web, and said neck portion being so related to said web contacting portion and said support means that said neck will be entirely radially outward of said web portion.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said pressure bearing means has the general configuration of a frustum of a wedge.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said pressure bearing means includes two oppositely directed recessed faces and said faces being at least partially bounded by a relatively raised periphery.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said periphery of at least one of said faces comprises said web contacting portion.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes resilient shoulders which have ends turned in toward said pressure bearing means for gripping said one side of said flange. 